Florida really is Heaven's waiting room. According to a new study by Portfolio.com, the Sunshine State is by far the most popular destination for retirees, which has major implications as the gigantic baby boomer population continues to enter retirement age. The good news for Miamians who hate old people: Miami is not that most popular retirement area, by Florida standards anyway. Which still means it's a pretty damn popular retirement area.
According to an analysis of people 65 and older who relocated in 2008, the Bradenton-Sarasota area of Florida was the most popular retirement destination in America. Six other Florida areas made the top ten: Cape Coral-Ft. Myers, Naples, Palm Bay-Melbourne, Homosassa Springs, Ocala, Punta Gorda, and Port St. Lucie.
It's no surprise that retirees prefer Florida's quieter beach towns.
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale is the 17th most popular retirement destination out of the 153 areas analyzed in America. Which seems pretty high, but only four Florida areas ranked lower.
Pensacola, way down at 72, is by far the least popular area in Florida for retirees. But that might be true for people of all ages. Have you ever even been to Pensacola? Do you want to go? Exactly.
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